Box Score LAKEWOOD, N.J. (Nov. 28, 2017) – In a game decided in the final seconds, it wasn't the final few plays that cost the Salem University Tigers in a 61-59 loss to the Georgian Court University Lions, but the missed opportunities leading up to them.
A failed attempt to draw a charge in the backcourt gave the Lions' Jess Placher a pair of free throws for the game-winning points, and
Keishla Gilmore's last-second runner bounced harmlessly off the rim, ending the game on two plays magnified by failures elsewhere.
In a two-point loss, the Tigers shot just 15-for-29 from the free-throw line, hitting just 6-for-18 in the second half after going 9-for-11 in the first.
Those missed free throws were compounded by surrendering a 20-rebound advantage to the Lions, leading to a 14-8 Georgian Court University edge in second-chance points.
Salem started the game on an 10-2 run, getting a pair of jumpers and a free throw from Gilmore, three free throws by
Aaliyah Dotson and a layup from
Isis Mance. But the Lions closed the quarter out on a 20-7 run to take a 22-17 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Tigers were cold all night, hitting just 20-for-60 (33.3 percent) from the field, including 4-for-15 from the 3-point line. The Lions didn't fare much better, shooting just 25-for-29 (36.2 percent) from the field, including 5-for-17 (29.4 percent) from the 3-point line.
Isis Mance led Salem with 20 points, eight rebounds, four steals and three blocks, working inside on drop steps and spins and stepping out to the 3-point line for two 3-pointers, finishing 8-for-13 overall.
Gilmore finished with 15 points as the only other Salem player in double figures, contributing four assists and four steals on 5-for-14 shooting and hitting just 5-for-10 from the free-throw line.
Destiny Thompson led the Lions with 16 points and six rebounds before fouling out, shooting 8-for-19 from the field. Placher and Nerea Brajac each scored 13 points, with Brajac also contributing 14 rebounds for the double-double.
The Tigers will finish their back-to-back with a game against Holy Family University on Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
